Railway Village is a creative centre (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Railway Village is a creative centre
4:10am Monday 6th October 2008 in News
YOUTHS were given the all-clear to cover hoardings in the Railway Village with street art.
They created a modern design surrounding building work on Swindon’s new youth centre, Platform.
Swindon Council decided to let young people from the group Youth First decorate the building rather than leave it open to a potential attack of vandalism.
“It’s a remarkable piece of artwork,” said Coun Garry Perkins, cabinet member for children services. “There is a difference between graffiti and street art. I haven’t heard any complaints about this art. It lightens up the area.
“And now the talented artists are looking for other areas to show their work. It really is very high quality work.”
The new youth centre will be housed in the former railway museum. Young people have chosen Platform as the name of the centre, which will have a stage, theatre and restaurant.
Every aspect of the new building is being decided in close consultation with young people from Swindon and the surrounding area.
Fifteen-year-old Stefan Fisher helped with the design.
He said: “I use the youth centre in Walcot and saw a flyer about the project. Although I’m not great at art, I thought this would be an opportunity to improve my artistic view.
“We’ve been planning the design for months and I’m really pleased with the final result. It was good to be part of the project and I will definitely be going to see Platform when it opens.”
Kyle Riggot, 17, of Old Town, who also took part, said: “I thought it was a great experience. I would love to do it again. I would like to see more things like this happening in the town.”
Platform is expected to cost £1m and will be open by Easter. The refurbishment will include a new wooden floor, alcohol-free bar, al fresco café, offices and toilets. The grand entrance to the museum will be restored to reflect its original design.
Comments(38)
Bobfm
says...
10:32am Mon 6 Oct 08
I gave a talk there a couple of weeks ago, they didn't spare my blushes with their views, and that was just the women.
The Artist formally known as Grumpy Old Man
says...
10:38am Mon 6 Oct 08
Malkym
says...
11:29am Mon 6 Oct 08
southsouthwest
says...
11:31am Mon 6 Oct 08
Casual Observer
says...
11:43am Mon 6 Oct 08
I'd rather see this 'art' here than on my front wall, that's for sure.
Bob, when you finished blushing did you do anything to help the situation?
PeeveD
says...
11:49am Mon 6 Oct 08
Casual Observer
says...
12:03pm Mon 6 Oct 08
PeeveD wrote:That's a problem for you is it? One of them looks mixed race, one of them looks oriental.. is that a problem too?
Blimey.... a little on the ginger side aren't they?
Bobfm
says...
12:07pm Mon 6 Oct 08
What did I do?. I empathised with those who had to ook at it on a regular basis.
Casual Observer
says...
12:29pm Mon 6 Oct 08
PeeveD
says...
12:35pm Mon 6 Oct 08
Bobfm
says...
12:48pm Mon 6 Oct 08
HoneyPie
says...
12:55pm Mon 6 Oct 08
nansview
says...
12:59pm Mon 6 Oct 08
yeti
says...
1:23pm Mon 6 Oct 08
i'd bet anything with anybody that they will have caused criminal damage in other locations
Casual Observer
says...
1:26pm Mon 6 Oct 08
Mum's The Word
says...
1:54pm Mon 6 Oct 08
I know, let's condemn every young person in Swindon on the basis that some are little toe rags. Let's criticise and condemn their every move and then look on smugly when they finally give in and live up to the name YOU have given them!
I think this building and the art work is a brill idea and I say fair play to all who has helped with the project. The kids deserve a place like this.
Don't bother replying with your negative, sarcastic comments because to me they will all be dismissed as ill informed and IRRELEVANT!
Kids enjoy your new building :)
Casual Observer
says...
2:04pm Mon 6 Oct 08
Mum's The Word
says...
2:21pm Mon 6 Oct 08
Mum's The Word
says...
2:38pm Mon 6 Oct 08
I meant fair play to all who have helped.
Apologies for the grammatical error
I Too
says...
6:57pm Mon 6 Oct 08
The voluntary groups, that were set up, in the building previously, were already "up and running" with youth groups. They were costing nothing.
Watch this space, offices and more flats.
Bobfm
says...
7:19pm Mon 6 Oct 08
Casual Observer
says...
8:15pm Mon 6 Oct 08
Mum's The Word
says...
8:49pm Mon 6 Oct 08
I really think it would be an idea to encourage those 100 or so elderly people to mix with the teens who will use the new youth centre. Barriers need breaking down and myths expelling. Perhaps then those old people would not live in fear of the young and the young people would realise that actually not everyone in the world is against them for quite simply being a “youth”
I think I too also adds a very interesting observation to this thread:
The voluntary groups, that were set up, in the building previously, were already "up and running" with youth groups. They were costing nothing.
So now that it's had the revamp, will activities at the centre no longer be free? Will they instead be costly and out of pocket for a majority of our teens? Also will access be limited? Who will be allowed to use the centre and when? Will it be used for any other purpose (rooms hired out for private venues as a money spinner for instance?) Can anyone answer these questions?
nuddy2
says...
9:51pm Mon 6 Oct 08
A mere £1m for all this, sounds like very good value to me, sure that figures correct? I'd have thought if you added another £1m, it may be closer to the mark!
gordon dickinson
says...
1:48am Tue 7 Oct 08
fair play to you Mums the word and casual observer.
the Artwork has, obviously, been well thought out and planned.
Of course not everyone is going to like it, it's art (not tagging), but there's no real need to be rude.
These young people are trying to show you that they are prepared to work hard for the good of something.
So give them a break ..... or come up with a better plan.
Still not sure why you don't use your proper names.
gordon dickinson
says...
1:51am Tue 7 Oct 08
regards
gordon
Bobfm
says...
5:28pm Tue 7 Oct 08
CO it gets rather tedious when you at will choose to blatantly miss interpret by comments about the elderly, it is call irony, but I guess you probably already knew that.
HoneyPie
says...
6:53pm Tue 7 Oct 08
And we are not all rude or negative.
gordon dickinson
says...
9:09pm Tue 7 Oct 08
your initial comment was fair and constructive.
I've re-read my comment and cannot see how you could regard it as self promotion.
I have simply chosen not to hide behind a made up name.
Thanks for the plug though.
Mum's The Word
says...
9:30pm Tue 7 Oct 08
HoneyPie
says...
5:35am Wed 8 Oct 08
You seem worried by these nom de plumes and accuse people of hiding. In my case, my day job requires me to be neutral on all controversial issues. By using an alias, I can speak freely on subjects that take my interest. I do try to be fair - I am not hiding behind a made-up name so that I can be offensive to people.
On the whole, as far as I can see, most people who use their real names do so with a reason - usually to promote their political party.
Note to Mum's - yes he has done a lot of work with schools, etc.
Bobfm
says...
11:19am Wed 8 Oct 08
So your employer demands absolute obedience, didn't that go out with 'Dickens'. I thought we lived in a democracy, you are entitled to your personal opinions, regardless who your employer is. Do I detect you work for some form of local authority/agency.
As for politics, I personally was using my real name as a poster long before I got involved with politics. It's called being open and honest and standing by ones views and opinions. As my grandfather use to say, 'tell the truth and shame the devil'.
gordon dickinson
says...
11:32am Wed 8 Oct 08
maybe i should change my name to" foot in mouth"
I do a lot of work with young people, and tend to get annoyed at the negative attitudes (of some people) towards groups such as this, who are trying really hard to create a positive impression.
Worz
says...
12:20pm Wed 8 Oct 08
> I thought we lived in a democracy, you are entitled to your personal opinions
>
These days, it seems not :-( If you don't hold rampantly liberal, politically correct views, then you're considered scum by many people, and employers will look unfavorably upon people employees who could possibly be a liability.
People use aliases so that they can put forward un-PC views, and their reasoning/logic behind them, in the hope that they can sway general opinion, without being victimised.
For instance, I personally believe that many of this country's problems today are due to gross over population, and that we should do everything that we can to discourage immigration and birth, and that the most anti-social criminals should be executed. However, the PC brigade believe that everyone in the world has a right to live in the UK, and to produce as many children as they can, and that even the most viscous criminals have human rights.
However, if I were to say this sort of thing in open conversation, I'd be sacked, beaten up, or somesuch. 1984 and the thought police are already here (if anyone's not read 1984, I strongly recommend that you do, it's not a long book or difficult reading, but it really makes you think, especially when you realise that it was written in about 1950).
So much for "Sir, I disagree with what you have said, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" (who said that?). It all makes me very sad.
Worz
says...
12:27pm Wed 8 Oct 08
Getting back to the original article, looking at the photo above, it really doesn't look any different from all the graffiti that we're all used to seeing (i.e. wobbly writing), with the possible exception that it's not been hurried eg. they've had time to do a proper background. GD do you have any proper photos of this thing, rather than the grimacing baseball caps?
HoneyPie
says...
1:44pm Wed 8 Oct 08
And your detection skills are way off on my job area.
Mum's The Word
says...
4:20pm Wed 8 Oct 08
Worz
says...
11:38am Fri 10 Oct 08
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